RESIDENTS in Yarm are up in arms over plans to increase the capacity of one of the town's nightclubs.

The Keys, in the High Street, can accommodate 400 people but has applied to increase this to 490. Members of Stockton Borough Council licensing committee will discuss the application on Tuesday.

Residents living in High Church Wynd have complained of revellers' sexual antics in the street, stealing hanging baskets and milk bottles and urinating in entrance ways.

They claim the new proposal will make the anti-social behaviour problems even worse.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "This proposal provides a further strain to the parking, policing and environmental aspects of Yarm High Street, the surrounding roads and wynds."

His views were echoed by Betsy and Ian Easton who, in a letter to the council, said: "We already have a great deal of anti-social behaviour caused by the many people who come to drink in Yarm.

"There will be a further increase in late night traffic and noise, especially by taxis.

"Yarm now has an unenviable reputation for rowdiness and many respectable people choose not to come into Yarm on an evening."

Following concerns that the escape staircase at the nightclub was not wide enough to accommodate extra customers, modification work has been carried out. The council had also recommended that two male toilets would have to be built if more people were allowed to use the club.

Alastair Powell, who owns the Keys, has promised to make the male facilities on the ground floor available to nightclub customers by forming a new door from the club reception area into the existing toilets.

A report by officers to the meeting says: "This proposal is acceptable, subject to robust controls being in place in respect of monitoring to ensure the maximum occupancy level is not exceeded.